Sawmill.



J." WALTON.

. SAWHILL.

(Application filed Nov. 14, 1899.)

Patented May I, I900.

3 Sheets-Shbet I.

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS PETERS co. PNOTQ-LlTHO-yWASHjNGTQN, 0.1:.

No. 648,473. Patented May I. I900. I J. WALTON.

SAWMILL.

. (Application filed Nov. 14, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE mums vzrsns m. PHoTo-urua. WASHINGTON, u. c,

No. 648,473. I Patented May I, I900.

J. WALTON.

SAWMILL (Application filed. Noiv. 14, 1899.) -(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN \VALTON, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAWMILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,47 3, dated May 1, 1900.

Application filed November '14, 1999:. "Serial No. 736,943. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sawmills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sawmills; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The mill comprising my invention is peculiarly adaptedfor quarter-sawing lumber and in the construction shown is arranged for this purpose.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, asfollows:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the machine. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are outlines of an end view of a sawlog, showing the system of cutting the same. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the mill. Fig. 10 is a front elevation. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the pressroll mechanism.

The frame of the machine comprises beams A A A A,which are united by the cross-beams A A. The saw B is of the band-saw type and has saw-teeth b b on both its edges. It is driven from a pulley 0 over a loose pulley C and has its spans in its preferred form arranged horizontally. The drive saw-pulley- O is mounted on the shaft 0 and the loose saw-pulley O is mounted on the shaft 0 The shaft 0 is journaled in the boxes 0, and the shaft 0 is journaled in the boxes 0 c. Extending from the boxes 0 are the racks c 0 which engage the gears 0 The gears c are fixed on the shaft 0'. The boxes 0 are arranged to slide on the beams A and A so that a movement of the gears 0 will move the boxes 0 and tension the saw. Extending from the shaft 0 is an arm 0 from which is suspended a weight 0 by means of a link 0. The purpose of this mechanism is to tension the saw. The saw-pulleys are slightly crowned, and this retains the saw in position upon them. Extending upwardly from the beams A are the four standards D, two at each side of the saw, and between each two at each lever 9 side of the saw is a standard E, which is also secured to the beams A. At each end of the saw is arranged a table F, upon which and from which the log is received and passed on to the saw.

The mill is arranged to saw logs passing in opposite directions on opposite sides of the centralstandard E. On one side are arranged the rolls G G and, on the opposite side rolls G G. These rolls are so adjusted in height relatively to the upper span of the saw B as to give the desired thickness to the board. The rolls G are mounted on the bell-crank levers g g, and the rolls G are mounted on the bell-crank levers g g. These bell-crank levers are journaled on the shafts H, which extend between the standards D. The lower ends of the bell-crank leversg are connected together by a rod 9 The lower ends of the bell-crank levers g are connected by rods 9 A link 9 connects the rods 9 and a link connects the rods g so that the rolls GGand G G, respectively, are kept each pair, respectively, at the same height relatively to the saw B.

A link g connects the rod g with a hand- A quadrant g is arranged to lock the lever g in the different desired positions to give the rolls G G their proper elevation. A similar link, hand-lever, and quadrant, (lettered g g g, respectively,) act through the rod 9 upon the rolls G G in the same manner.

Two pairs of feed-rolls II are arranged in the uprights E, one pair in each. These rolls extend through the uprights E, so that a surface is exposed at each side. The shafts 2' extend from the upper ends of the rolls I, and gears t" are fixed on these shafts. Gears 1' are arranged to mesh the gears t" and are mounted on the shaft i A drive-pulley 2' is arranged on the shaft 2' and is driven from the pulley i The pulley 2' is mounted on the shaft i and the shaft 7 is journaled in the boxes 2' i on the tops of the standards D. At the outer end of the shafts i is arranged cone-pulley i The cone-pulley i is arranged to be driven from a cone-pulley 0 which is mounted on the shaft 0 The band-mill is driven, together with the feed, by the pulley C mounted on the shaft 0 The operation of the-mill so far as described is as-follows: A quarter of the log is placed upon the rollers G G and pressed against. the feed-rollers I I with the sawed surfaces of the logs against the said rollers. The action of the rollers I carries the log by the saw B and cuts ofi a board from the under side. The log is then simply turned one-quarter and placed upon the rollers G G and pressed against the opposite side of the rollers I I. This returns the log and takes ofl a board from the opposite surface. log through the mills I term thef"passes, and it will be noted that the rollers, G G and I tables F form supports on which the log is carried through the pass with the body of the log above the saw and on which the log may be turned and shifted from one pass to the other. In Fig. 2 the boards are numbered as they are taken oif. Board No. 1 is taken off by the first pass over the rolls G, board No. 2 by the first pass over the rolls G, board No. 3 by the second pass over the rolls G, and so on. Of course but one side of the mill need be used, if desired; but it will readily be understood that the capacity of the mill is doubl'edby operating ,at both sides at once;

Preferably the manner of operating is tohave a plurality of logs operating upon both sides of the mill at once and to butt the ends of the logs in their passage, so that a continuous operation is efiected at both sides. This balances the saw so as to take away any tend-' ency theremay be for it to move off the pul-- l'eys C O, and thisperm-its of crowding the mill, and at the same time the continuous operation of course also effects a great capacity.

" I prefer to supplement the feed-rolls with press-rolls," arranged to press the log against said feed-rolls The mechanismfor accomplishing this is as follows: Connecting the upper ends of the standards D-are the rods H. Frames'J are arranged to slide on the rods H H and H. The rolls J "J are ion 1'- naled in thefram es so as to contact a log placed upon the rollers G G and to press the same against the feed-rollers I if moved "in the direction of said rollers I. A bridge 3" extends from the frames J by the center of the rolls J, and a piston-rod J 2 extends from said bridge to a piston j. The piston j is arranged in a cylinder J which is secured on the standard D. Aport-arm J extends from the cylinder and a valve-chest J? is secured on this port-arm. The ports j? extend through the port-arm from the valve-chest to the opposite ends of the cylinder. One

cylinder J is connected with the endsof one. valve j this cylinder by V the pipes j j By this m-eans -both,cylinders are operated by the- The valve j is arranged in'the valve chest J 5 and is preferably of the cylindrical-valvevariety. It has the central open-- ingj extending through it and the annular port o'pening jlaround it. The-steam-pipe is connected with the val-ve-chestlatj and the exhaust-pipe at 3'; The'valve-stem 'J extends .the catch mechanism 9' may operate.

The paths of the out through the end of the valve chest and is connected with a hand-leverJ The handlever J 8 is fulcrumed at 3' on a link The ,linkj is secured to a lugj extending from the frame J. Extending from the upright D is a quadrant J having the stops 7' on wl ilifih e valve-port openingfis of j ust sufficient length to barely open the-two ports 7' to the steamsupply when the valve is exactly in its central position. In practice the'opening to the ports j j isaccomplished by giving to the opening 7' alength thatwill just register with the edges of the portsj j as shown in the 'drawings, or giving to the valve so little lap that steam will leak through to the ports 9' 3? A slight leakage will accomplish the purpose. As the 'valve'is moved in either direction steam is' cut off from one side of the cylinder and admitted to the other, and when the valve is moved a sufficient distance to overcome the lap the side of the cylinder out ofi is open to the exhaust. The operation of this part of the mechanism is as follows: The position to which the rolls J are to be moved is determined and the hand-lever J i moved to a position on the quadrant to correspond to this position. This movement of the lever moves the valve j and opens the port at the side of the cylinder to which the steam'should be ad mitted to move the rolls in the direction desired. Steam acting on the piston j moves the rolls J. This movement of the rolls moves the links j and consequently moves the-lever J which, acting on the qu-adrant as afulcru m, moves the valve-stem J As soon as the valve has reached the central position by reason of this movement incident to the movement' of the frame J steam is admitted to both sides of the cylinder J thus neutral= izingthe efiect' of the steam upo'n the piston j. and stopping the movement of the rolls J Describing the movement specifically in relation to the mechanism shown in Fig.

'11, assuming that the. lever'J is moved to the stop. at which the designating-letter is placed on the drawings, this.movement would move the valve 3' toward the right a t greater or less-distance, according to the dis tance the stopj maybe from the normal. This allows the steam to enter the port 3' at =theright andcuts off the port fat the left and ordinarily opens this port to the exhaust. The action of the steam then immediately -moves the piston 9" toward the left, carrying with it the frame J and the link 3' The link j acting upon the lever J which is fulcrumed at the stop f moves the valve 3'' toward the'left until the valve is brought to a central position, when the actionof the steam in the cylinder J isneutralized; One of the advantages of this construction is that while pressure can be created upon the rol-lsJ this pressure will not fol-low any'great distance, sothat there will be no slamming of the-rolls {J after the passage of. the log, as a very .slightforward movement of the rolls past the desired point brings the valve to the central position. On the other hand, should the rolls be pressed back by any unevenness in the log the valve 3' is opened to the back side of the cylinder J so as to immediately return the rolls J to their position.

In the operation of the machine as a quarter-sawing mill it is desirable that the log should not only be quartered, as shown in Fig. 2, but should have the portions of the log just adjacent to the cuts trimmed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the edges of the quartered log present straight surfaces to the presser-rolls J. As the boards are out off the quartered log the nntrimmed surface of the log of course would be presented to the rolls J, unless means were provided to continue the trimming of the edges as the saw ing goes on. I have provided such a means, which is constructed as follows: Extending from one of the beams A and uprights D are the brackets K, in which is journaled a shaft 70. One of these, each similar in construction, is arranged at each end of the mill, one for each side of the mill. An edging or cutterhead saw K is arranged on the shaft k, with a spline and groove mechanism. A collar extends from the saw, and an arm K extending from the frame J, engages this collar, so as to carry the saw K with the frame J. The saw is arranged just in advance of the rollers J, so that at each cut of a board from the log the edge of the log is trimmed, so as to make a surface on which the rolls J may act on the succeeding out. The saw K is driven by a pulley K arranged on the shaft 7c. The pulley K is driven by any convenient power mechanism. i

It will be noted that a portion of the log above the saw is secured by means of the feedrolls and presser-rolls as the log passes by the saw. This is desirable, as the saw operates upon the bottom of the log. It will also be noted that by utilizing the top span of the saw the journals of the saw-pulleys (land 0 are brought to the plane of the beams A, so that a very rigid construction may be effected with a very light frame.

What I claim as new is 1. In a sawmill, the combination of a bandsaw mechanism arranged to cut in substantially-horizontal plane logs passed by said saw mechanism in both directions; and means for passing logs against and by said saw ing mechanism arranged to cut in substantially a horizontal plane logs passed by said sawing mechanism in both directions; means for passing logs against and by saidsaw continuously in both directions; and means on which said log is supported in the pass with thebody of the log above the saw, and is supported at the ends of the pass for turning and shifting from one pass to the other.

3. In a sawmill, the combination of a bandsaw mechanism arranged to cut in substantially a horizontal plane logs passed by said sawing mechanism in both directions; means for passing logs against and by said saw continuously in both direct-ions; and means 011 which said log is supported in the pass with the body of the log above the saw, and is supported at'the ends of the pass for turning and shifting from one pass to the other.

4. In a sawmill, the combination of a doubleedged band-saw; and means for passing logs against and by said saw simultaneously in both directions.

5. In a sawmill, the combination of a doubleedged band-saw; and means for passing logs against and by the same span of said saw simultaneously in both directions.

6. In a sawmill, the combination of a doubleedged band-saw; and means for passing logs against and by said saw continuously in both directions.

7. In a sawmill, the combination ofa doubleedged band-saw; and means for passing logs continuously against and by the same span of said saw in both directions.

8. In a sawmill,the combination of a doubleedged band-saw arranged with a span in a substantially-horizontal plane; and means for passing logs against and by said saw simultaneously in both directions.

9. In a sawmill,the combination of'a doubleedged band-saw arranged with a span in a substantially-horizontal plane; and means for passing logs against and by the same span of said saw simultaneously in both directions.

10. In a sawmill, the combination of a double-edged band-saw; a roll-feed arranged to feed logs against and by said saw simultaneously in both directions.

11. In a sawmill, the combination of a don ble-edged band-saw and a roll-feed arranged to feed logs against and by the same span of said saw simultaneously in both directions.

12. In a sawmill arranged for quarter-sawing lumber; the combination of a sawing mechanism for sawing the log; an edger arranged to cutthe edge of the log with the same pass; and a roll arranged in line with the edger and to operate upon the trimmed edges of the log.

13. In a sawmill arranged for quarter-sawing lumber, the combination of a sawing mechanism; a roll-feed for passing the log by said mechanism, comprising a press-roll operating upon the edge of the log; an edger arranged for edging the log with the same pass as the quarter-sawing pass; and means for adjusting said saw with the press-roll mechanism.

14. In a sawmill, the combination with a feed device; of a press-roll; a piston connected with said roll; a cylinder in which said piston operates; a valve for controlling the entrance of fluid to said cylinder; a hand-lever for initially operating said valve; and a connection between said valve and the press-roll whereby the valve is. moved with the press-roll. and

brought to normal at a predetermined point.

15. In a sawmill, the combination with a feed device; of a press-roll; a piston connected with said roll; a cylinder inwhich said piston operates; a valve-chest connected with said cylinder having ports leading therefrom to said cylinder; a valve in said chest having steam-passages therein which with the valve at normal permit the entrance of steam to both ports of the cylinder; a hand-lever for initially operating said valve; and a connection between said valve and the press-roll whereby the valve is moved with the press roll and brought to normal at'apredetermined point.

16'. In a sawmill, thecombination of a sawing device arranged to make a cut in a substantially-horizontal plane, and adapted to out logs passed in either direction by said sawing device; supporting-rolls for carrying the logs passed by said sawing mechanism, one system of rolls for each way; and means for adjusting-the rolls of each system independently of the other system in a vertical direction.

17. In a sawmill, the combination of a double-edged band-saw B having its spans arranged horizontally; means for driving said saw; the supporting-rolls, G G arranged beneath the working span of the saw; means for adjusting said rolls; feed-rolls, 1; means for drivingsaid rolls; the press-rolls, J arranged opposite the rolls I and at both sides of said rolls I; and means formoving said press-rolls against the log..- i

18. In a sawmill, the combination of the double-edged band-saw, B; means for driving said saw; the supporting-rolls, G G; means for adjusting said rolls;- feed-rolls,-I-; means for driving said rolls; the press-rolls, J; means for moving said press-rolls against the log; and the edger, K, carried with the pressrolls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WALTON.

Witnesses: V

ERNEST MARTIN, HOMER M. HILL. 

